wright/watt Posted May 11, 2021 Share Posted May 11, 2021 Thanks Ped..😃👍 It is a beauty..I know you are the man to goto with all things Vigier, which I also have greatly appreciated, thanks. This one now has batteries in it for the first time in years!! Plays and sounds the absolute business. Very lucky to spot it in a local gumtree add!! Dates to the 15 January 1987.Could maybe be an earlier model with the 2'nd generation of Benedetti pickups? All the best. Alan😃👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted May 11, 2021 Share Posted May 11, 2021 (edited) Vigier are a brand I've been interested in since I used to read Guitarist magazine in the very early 90s and saw a review of the Passion - I never thought I'd be able to afford one, but I recently received a little bit of inheritance money from my grandfather so I'm in bass shopping mode! A used Amethyst Passion 5 at Bass Direct has caught my eye and is just within my budget... The other basses I'm considering are a Dingwall D-roc 5 Standard (currently on order with Mark as it was floating my boat originally) and a Spector Euro 4 or 5 What I'm looking for is a bass that feels ALIVE... Punch and growl are what I'm after. I don't see many reviews for the Passion that would cover my style (hard rock to metal) so it's hard for me to really judge and visiting Warwick is out for the foreseeable. What are the thoughts guys? Would a Passion 5 fit the bill? Edited May 11, 2021 by Bigwan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wright/watt Posted May 11, 2021 Share Posted May 11, 2021 31 minutes ago, Bigwan said: Vigier are a brand I've been interested in since I used to read Guitarist magazine in the very early 90s and saw a review of the Passion - I never thought I'd be able to afford one, but I recently received a little bit of inheritance money from my grandfather so I'm in bass shopping mode! A used Amethyst Passion 5 at Bass Direct has caught my eye and is just within my budget... The other basses I'm considering are a Dingwall D-roc 5 Standard (currently on order with Mark as it was floating my boat originally) and a Spector Euro 4 or 5 What I'm looking for is a bass that feels ALIVE... Punch and growl are what I'm after. I don't see many reviews for the Passion that would cover my style (hard rock to metal) so it's hard for me to really judge and visiting Warwick is out for the foreseeable. What are the thoughts guys? Would a Passion 5 fit the bill? I would say Geezer Butler played Vigier basses, and Roger Glover of Deep Purple has his own signature model..not a passion albeit, but still using the 10/90 neck construction.. Doesn't get more metal than that!!🤟 Don't know much about Vigier 5 string basses to be fair but I am sure they will kick out like the 4 string ones do!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CookPassBabtridge Posted May 11, 2021 Share Posted May 11, 2021 2 hours ago, Bigwan said: Vigier are a brand I've been interested in since I used to read Guitarist magazine in the very early 90s and saw a review of the Passion - I never thought I'd be able to afford one, but I recently received a little bit of inheritance money from my grandfather so I'm in bass shopping mode! A used Amethyst Passion 5 at Bass Direct has caught my eye and is just within my budget... The other basses I'm considering are a Dingwall D-roc 5 Standard (currently on order with Mark as it was floating my boat originally) and a Spector Euro 4 or 5 What I'm looking for is a bass that feels ALIVE... Punch and growl are what I'm after. I don't see many reviews for the Passion that would cover my style (hard rock to metal) so it's hard for me to really judge and visiting Warwick is out for the foreseeable. What are the thoughts guys? Would a Passion 5 fit the bill? I have a Vigier Passion and it would punch your balls off. Cuts through a mix like nobody’s business - the 18v preamp helps with that. Plenty of growl too. Very modern sounding - whether it would be good for hard rock/metal is a subjective thing but in my opinion, yes it would. Fit and finish are superb. I also love the fact it doesn’t have a truss rod - no need to as apparently the neck won’t move as it’s made from phenowood. In fairness all of the options you’re looking at are great, the Vigier perhaps being the more ‘boutique’, IMO. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTool Posted May 11, 2021 Share Posted May 11, 2021 12 hours ago, wright/watt said: Oh my!!!! That is a stunning bass 😮 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted May 12, 2021 Share Posted May 12, 2021 On 11/05/2021 at 11:32, wright/watt said: ..there are four passion 11 basses listed for sale in France on www.leboncoin.fr There's even one with delta metal fretboard... shouldn't have looked... But compared to the availability and prices of Wal basses, there are still few Vigiers, they are lighter in weight and prices are nearly reasonable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted May 12, 2021 Share Posted May 12, 2021 I had a few Delta Metal fretless Vigier. Fantastic basses, but taking a lot of room in a band, beware @itu... Your guitarist(s) will hate you. That said, my Le Fay Remington Steele 6 is a dream to play, if you like metal fingerboards. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted May 12, 2021 Share Posted May 12, 2021 This is the Vigier Delta Metal fretless. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wright/watt Posted May 12, 2021 Share Posted May 12, 2021 3 hours ago, itu said: There's even one with delta metal fretboard... shouldn't have looked... But compared to the availability and prices of Wal basses, there are still few Vigiers, they are lighter in weight and prices are nearly reasonable. Four Vigiers for the price of a Wal bass!! No chiropractor needed either!! 🙈😃 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 On 12/02/2017 at 22:45, barrabass said: My another Vigier Passion III Black Diamond 1996 5 strings Expectacular! http://subirimagen.me/uploads/20170212164207.jpg On 13/02/2017 at 11:17, Bbiigg Kev said: [quote name='barrabass' timestamp='1486979966' post='3235941'] Yes. The serial number is 187 Why? [/quote] Just interest. #186 to go with your #187. Small world? Big Forum? Or just not many Vigiers? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wright/watt Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 So I accept for me buying older Vigier basses, is becoming an addiction!! HELP!! I picked this Series 1 Arpege fretless on Gumtree about a month ago..I have wanted a delta metal fretless for what is years, and to see one come up, I bit the bullet, because snooze you lose! I had a series 1 fretted bass earlier this year, but sold due to not being able to get the insane low action on my series 11,111 passion basses..So I didn't take a gamble on this, just an educated guess that the fretless would be able to lower the action quite well, even with the truss rod! Thankfully correct! So probably a last series 1 bass from March 86.. Electronics have been replaced I appreciate..Very functional 18v 3 band preamp..active/passive push pull knob, master volume and passive tone knob..No idea who made the preamp but very quiet, So maybe not quite as quirky as the other two..lol The neck profile is slim and just astounding.. This fretless really sings with that spinal tap sustain that goes on and on and on! Trying not to do that Alan Partridge moment in his caravan pretending to be Mick Karn..lol..Feel it may become quite addictive polishing the delta metal fingerboard too! So the second one of these beauties up on basschat this week! 👍😃 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 For polishing the Delta Metal, I've always used the good old Sidol. If you're still looking for the right strings, the Elixir's are the best suited for metallic fingerboard. Very nice one you manage to buy, even if the preamp has been changed and the pickups upgraded. 👏 I love these fretless Delta Metal Vigier's. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 5 hours ago, wright/watt said: school me (in something I really shouldn't be having an Interest in... ) The middle one is the fretless series one Arpage .... so pickups further apart... Passion are left and right, pickups closer together... is the left hand one a series 2 (carbon neck?) and the right hand one a series 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 Right @LukeFRC. The series 3 (III) Passion has the 90/10 neck (90% wood / 10% carbon). The exact name of this series 1 (I) is Arpège. 😉 There's also the "new" series IV with a bolt-on 90/10 neck, when all previous series were neck through, except the series 2 (II) that have set necks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wright/watt Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 31 minutes ago, Hellzero said: For polishing the Delta Metal, I've always used the good old Sidol. If you're still looking for the right strings, the Elixir's are the best suited for metallic fingerboard. Very nice one you manage to buy, even if the preamp has been changed and the pickups upgraded. 👏 I love these fretless Delta Metal Vigier's. Yes I may treat myself to some elixirs for this👍😃 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wright/watt Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 2 minutes ago, Hellzero said: Right @LukeFRC. The series 3 (III) Passion has the 90/10 neck (90% wood / 10% carbon). The exact name of this series 1 (I) is Arpège. 😉 There's also the "new" series IV with a bolt-on 90/10 neck, when all previous series were neck through, except the series 2 (II) that have set necks. Beat me to it thanks @Hellzero..for the information there..I owned a series IV Arpege..but just personally didn't get on with the bolt on neck Vigiers, beautiful though they are..The Glokenklang preamp amazing though👍😃 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 And don't forget the Excess series, which is the first series with a bolt-on neck and there was also a fretless Delta Metal model, that I bought brand new when it was released and stupidly sold a year after... 🤦🏻♂️ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 Fantastic 😻 that series 2 passion is right up my street, the grain is amazing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 5 minutes ago, Hellzero said: And don't forget the Excess series, which is the first series with a bolt-on neck and there was also a fretless Delta Metal model, that I bought brand new when it was released and stupidly sold a year after... 🤦🏻♂️ I tried an Excess once so I know a wee bit about that one! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wright/watt Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 7 minutes ago, ped said: Fantastic 😻 that series 2 passion is right up my street, the grain is amazing. Thanks @ped It is a real beauty.the Walnut grain is exceptional! I was told it may once have been owned by Derek Forbes of Simple minds!? 👍😃 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thodrik Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 I desperately want Vigier to release a walnut grain run of basses again. I think that they look terrific. I have now owned an Excess for 17 years and a bolt on Arpege five string for ten. Both sounding better than ever. I just need a Passion to complete the set! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CookPassBabtridge Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 (edited) A lovely addition to your collection there @wright/watt Sorry if this doesn’t adhere to the ‘pornography’ subject of this thread, but while we are on the topic of strings, does anyone have a recommendation for a series IV passion? I’ve recently restrung with some DR hi-beams and the tone is good but not quite what I was after…a tad too aggressive. Edited November 18, 2021 by CookPassBabtridge 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thodrik Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 14 minutes ago, CookPassBabtridge said: A lovely addition to your collection there @wright/watt Sorry if this doesn’t adhere to the ‘pornography’ subject of this thread, but while we are on the subject of strings, does anyone have a recommendation for a series IV passion? I’ve recently restrung with some DR hi-beams and the tone is good but not quite what I was after…a tad too aggressive. I use Elixir Nickels on the Arpege IV. Good all round string and last for ages (tough to source now with general shortages). Other than that my go-to string is D'addario. I had a set of Hi-Beams once and just found them too bright. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wright/watt Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 2 hours ago, CookPassBabtridge said: A lovely addition to your collection there @wright/watt Sorry if this doesn’t adhere to the ‘pornography’ subject of this thread, but while we are on the topic of strings, does anyone have a recommendation for a series IV passion? I’ve recently restrung with some DR hi-beams and the tone is good but not quite what I was after…a tad too aggressive. Thanks @CookPassBabtridge Wrong person to ask as I use Rotosound swing bass RS66LB 35-90 on my Vigier Passion basses..so they will be mega aggressive really! Even though shandy lightweight in gauge, but suits my light touch..I think Elixirs as @thodrik and @Hellzero says..Certainly will last a lot longer, and in previous experience of owning once, not so harsh👍😃 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CookPassBabtridge Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 3 hours ago, thodrik said: I use Elixir Nickels on the Arpege IV. Good all round string and last for ages (tough to source now with general shortages). Other than that my go-to string is D'addario. I had a set of Hi-Beams once and just found them too bright. Thanks, interesting you found the hi-beams too bright too. I guess I should have guessed that from their name 🤦♂️ I thought they’d be bright but not quite to the extreme! 1 hour ago, wright/watt said: Thanks @CookPassBabtridge Wrong person to ask as I use Rotosound swing bass RS66LB 35-90 on my Vigier Passion basses..so they will be mega aggressive really! Even though shandy lightweight in gauge, but suits my light touch..I think Elixirs as @thodrik and @Hellzero says..Certainly will last a lot longer, and in previous experience of owning once, not so harsh👍😃 Cheers, I’ll give the Elixirs a go based on both suggestions. I used them on other basses years ago but switched to Jim Dunlops. I can’t quite remember why. Possibly because I’m a cheapskate, but my Vigier deserves the best 😬 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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